Molded foot device promoting a forward push from a pitcher&#39;s rubber

ABSTRACT

When pitcher&#39;s push off the rubber, inexperienced pitcher&#39;s turn their foot sideways instead of pushing over their toes, losing power and crow hopping which is against the rules of softball. My invention which is called the “PowerPush” is a device that fits over the pitcher&#39;s rubber and provides a compartment to place the pitcher&#39;s push foot to provide direction in the forward direction. This device gives immediate feedback if the pitcher turns their foot sideways to early.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective side view of the invention illustrating an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the invention illustrating the exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a back view of the invention illustrating the exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the invention illustrating the exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention generally provides a foot device. More specifically, the current invention provides a foot device for promoting a forward push. The current invention may be placed over a pitcher's rubber or on the ground. The pitcher's rubber may be helpful, but not required. A pitcher may place his or her push foot inside the present invention toward the home plate. The pitcher pushes toward the plate without knocking the present invention out of the position. The repetition of staying in the present invention may provide a necessary muscle memory to gain the maximum power in the push leg. Furthermore, the present invention may help train a pitcher to stay within the rules of the game by not “crow hopping.”

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4, a foot device for promoting a forward push comprises a back and two sides. The back may be dimensioned and configured as a support; two sides may be dimensioned and configured to fit into the back. Each side has an elongated body with a bottom, a top, and two ends. Each said body has a groove on said bottom and a round corner between the top and the end that is away from the back. A connection mechanism connects the back to the sides.

More specifically, in an exemplary embodiment, the groove 2 may be used to fit on a top of regular sized pitcher's rubber. In addition, the groove 2 may allow the present invention a proper and consistent alignment on the pitcher's rubber. Furthermore, each side 3 may have a round corner 4, also called a relief radius, to provide a direction and give a relief for passing the heel at a correct time in the push. In addition, the round corner 4 may give a relief at a proper point in the push for the heel to start coming forward in the push. The width and height of the sides 3 of the present invention may be designed to confine the push foot in a straight forward direction toward the home plate. The sides 3 may provide a guide for the foot to prevent a pitcher from turning his or her foot too early in the push. The back 5 of the present invention may be designed to prevent a pitcher from sliding his or her push foot too far back or off the pitcher's rubber. In addition, the back 5 may be flat or concave. The present invention may be made of any supportive material, such as wood, metal, plastic, or any other moldable synthetic material. The invention may be made in one piece or three pieces. Furthermore, the present invention may be scaled to fit a smaller foot of a young pitcher.

In an exemplary embodiment, the current invention may be molded in an extruder after the mold is fabricated to the dimensions provided to the manufacturer. Because the present invention may be made in one piece, there is no assembly needed.

When inexperienced pitchers push off the pitcher's rubber, they often turn their feet sideways instead of pushing over their toes. The present invention may provide a compartment to fit the pitcher's push foot and provide a forward direction. In addition, the present invention may give immediate feedback if the pitchers turn their feet sideways too early.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

1. a molded foot device to promote a forward push from the pitching rubber. 